BAPTISM UNDER DIFFICULTIES.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume VIII, Issue 2437, 28 October 1886, Page 2

BAPTISM UNDER DIFFICULTIES.

A despatch from Reading, Pennßlyvania, says:—Several hundred people stood in the midst of a driving snowstorm ou the banks of the Schuylkill River one after-

lfoon to . ceremony It was thfi baptism ,of •hAlf .fi - v dozen women and one. man in the opoo; •.. river by the Roy, Mr. Mussehn&n,Or.tliisj. Mennonite -Brothren, Thaler wai

considerably; swollen, the current wsi •'/ swift,'and huge oakes of lce.were .corithyi '. ually passing, but the converts, marched to tho edge, lustily hymns of praise.'. Thrriver, banks were covered with snow, and deep the spectators stood and witnesaeoj: the ceremony. The -'pastor,. wft'' long rubber boots reaching to his; Wdist, ontered the water, and after a brief prayer, during which the converts knelt in the snow, called Miss Blum. She, a .

youugauburu-haired. woman, wearing a knit hood and homespun gown, waded , out to him.' The usual questions and ; answers given he laid her,.gently lack'i ward completely 'under ;.jr#ter 'with' her; head towards the current,: saying, as. M.!'- 1 did an, " I baptize thee into the Father, : Soil, and Holy Ghost. Amen;" Then Rising her and wiping her face, ' allowed her to. wade ashore alone, wliiletlio

second candidate took her . place. 7 congregation moariwhile saug an® 'each couveit, as she emorged.:frony thwwater joined iu the singmg, a shdwl'liewg ■ thrown over each one as she- Joined the

choiiv The seventh candidate for baptism a man accidentally tripped "the minister

during the ceremony,and both went under the surface together. ' Thoßcv. 'Mr jlus-' selman was 'almost suffocated-, by. tlio, sudden ending of his invocation, but both ; reached the sliore in safety, aiid-.-then altogether the candidates marched,to a liouso near by aud changed their clothing.